Content Marketing for Beginners: What's a Content Writer?

Thanks to the rise in content marketing, content writers are high in demand -- but what exactly differentiates them from other writers? Content marketing is a quickly growing field. With that growth comes opportunities for entrepreneurial minded writers. If you're curious about getting started in content marketing, we've put together a guide that should tell you if you are cut out for the job. See also: Writers, Here's 7 Ways to Beef Up Your Blog Posts

What is Content?

Content, at the most basic level, is information. Content on the web takes a variety of forms: blog posts, social media posts, video and audio recordings, web pages, white papers and more. Content writers, therefore, specialize in written content. Understanding the purpose of content is key to producing high-quality work. It's meant to speak directly with a particular audience, such as customers, potential customers, investors, employees, or other stakeholders. Content can be well written, researched and creatively conceived, but if it isn't speaking to the intended audience, it's not doing its job. See also: Do You Need a Content Writer or Copywriter

What Skills Do Content Writers Need?

Content writers need to be well-rounded. While this skill set may seem daunting to newcomers, all that is required to master these traits is practice. If you want to be a content writer, you need the following:

Solid grip on grammar and style

Excellent researching ability

Ability to write quickly and perform under tight deadlines

Must write in a variety of tones, on a variety of subjects, within a variety of structures

Strong knowledge of the field you wish to write about

Creative ability to generate content ideas

As you can see, pure writing ability is important, but far from the only qualification for becoming a content writer. Knowledge, creativity and writing speed are essential. See also: 6 Phrases Weakening Your Content

How Do You Get Started as a Content Writer?

The easiest way to get started is to apply to write content for a content writing service or freelance job board. Content writing services create business relationships with companies that need content and provide writers to write that content. Freelance job boards are sites that allow writers to make individual profiles and vie for jobs posted directly by the client. Content writing services generally offer more job opportunities and greater ease in actually taking jobs, while freelance job boards are well served by writers with many years of professional experience.

Where Do You Find Content Writing Jobs?

Once you have a solid portfolio of professionally written content, you can expand your career. There is a lot of work for talented content writers. The key is to find the different avenues of steady content writing assignments that work for you. What qualities do you think content writers should have? Share your thoughts with us below.